Chicago Unveils Most Ambitious Bike Plan in US

Chicago has unveiled its new Bike 2015 Plan, designed to achieve the mayor’s goal to make the Windy City the most bicycle-friendly city in the United States. Work has already begun on 75 of the planâ€™s 150 strategies, including Constructing 10 miles of new bikeways in 2006, to help reach the planâ€™s goal of a 500-mile bikeway network by 2015…
The Plan’s Strategies Include:

Establishing a mini-grant program to support community bicycling efforts. Funded by SRAM, a Chicago-based global manufacturer of innovative bicycle components.

Permitting passengers aged 14 to 17 to board CTA trains and buses with their bicycles, on a trial basis, so that Chicagoland high school students can combine transit and bicycle use.

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Rob Sadowsky, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federationâ€™s Executive Director, added, â€œThe plan covers everything we hoped for: from new exciting active living programs such as Sunday Parkways to specific facilities that will make bicycling in Chicago safer and more enjoyable. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation applauds the City of Chicago on what we see as the most ambitious bike plan in the United States.â€

“Bicycling reduces traffic congestion, conserves limited energy resources, integrates healthy physical activity into everyday travel, and reduces transportation costs,â€ CDOT Acting Commissioner Cheri Heramb said. â€œThis plan lays out the steps so that Chicagoâ€™s bicycle facilities and programs will rival those of any large city in the world.â€